Ethiopian Federal Police and IGAD Sign Strategic MoU on Regional Security Cooperation

​July 9, 2026 – Ethiopian Police University, Sendafa
​The Ethiopian Federal Police and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have signed a historic strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster regional security cooperation. During the signing ceremony, His Excellency Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael, Commander-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Federal Police, and His Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, delivered key remarks. Commissioner General Demelash stated that the agreement aligns with the directives of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, who instructed that the progress and capacity built through Ethiopia’s recent police security and safety reforms should be utilized to empower African nations, particularly law enforcement agencies in the East African region. He explained that the primary objective of the agreement is to ensure regional peace and security. While the Ethiopian Police University is a pioneer among police academies in East Africa, its past contributions were deemed insufficient; therefore, this coordinated agreement aims to enhance its capacity to empower, train, and support regional law enforcement through research, joint studies, and collaborative, solution-oriented dialogues.
​The Commissioner General added that the agreement creates an integrated framework of cooperation that will mutually benefit East African member states, primarily focusing on capacity building to enhance regional law enforcement skills and infrastructure, robust training and scholarship programs for officers, joint research and development to combat terrorism and transnational crimes, and improved community relations across the region. For his part, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu praised the significant transformation and growth demonstrated by the Ethiopian Federal Police, emphasizing that the agreement carries immense weight for regional integration. He noted that law enforcement agencies working together and exchanging experiences is vital for successful integration, adding that IGAD is highly prepared to expand this collaborative model into other sectors. Dr. Tamrat Mulugeta, President of the Ethiopian Police University, also spoke at the event, noting that the university currently offers more than 41 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral (PhD) programs. He highlighted the university’s recent induction into the Interpol Global Academy Network as evidence that education is a fundamental pillar for regional peace and security. Ultimately, this landmark agreement is expected to significantly contribute to empowering regional security forces, conducting joint training sessions, and modernizing information exchange, seamlessly aligning with IGAD’s vision, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Ethiopian Federal Police 2030 Strategic Plan.